Episode 128: ‘Tis the Season to be Juli [Still Alice; Big Eyes; Exodus; Unbroken]
Episode 128: ‘Tis the Season to be Juli
It’s Episode 128 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog.
It’s our last episode of 2014 so we take the opportunity to celebrate the best films we’ve reviewed on the podcast this year, and our favourite performances, which includes a surprising Supporting Actress win from Pete. This week’s reviews include the Biblical epic “Exodus: Gods and Kings” and Angelina Jolie’s audacious survival tale “Unbroken,” while Pete caught Jimi Hendrix biopic “Jimi: All Is By My Side.” We discuss fradulent artist drama “Big Eyes,” starring Amy Adams, while we assess Julianne Moore’s bid for a long overdue Oscar in heavy-going Alzheimer’s tale “Still Alice.” Elsewhere, the death of the last remaining acting Oscar winner from the 1930s resurrects a common complaint, we scrutinize this year’s Foreign Language Oscar race some more, there’s a Razzie-level performance in one of this week’s films, and the podcast is interrupted by the children and dogs in Cal’s packed household.
- The death of Luise Rainer
- Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter split up
- Foreign Language Oscar Shortlist is revealed
[2:35 – 16:40]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Big Eyes
- Exodus: Gods and Kings
- Unbroken
- Jimi: All Is By My Side
- Still Alice
[24:25 – 1:11:40]
Closing Segment: Discussing our favourite films and performances reviewed on the podcast in 2014!
[1:11:45 – 1:17:55]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Baha Men, “Who Let the Dogs Out?”
Episode 127: Size Matters [Winter Sleep; The Hobbit 3; Get Santa]
Episode 127: Size Matters
It’s Episode 127 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog.
It’s the week of the epics, as Peter Jackson finally ends his Middle Earth fascination (we hope, anyway) with the last instalment of The Hobbit, and Nuri Bilge Ceylan has made his longest film yet, with the solemn Palme d’Or winning “Winter Sleep.” We had an awful lot to say about Ceylan’s 196-minute effort, which leads to a discussion of films about actors and an all-out celebration of Ava Gardner, while we managed to get around to festive favourite “Get Santa” and Cal caught the middle-class melodrama “The Face Of Love.” Elsewhere, we discuss the impact of the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations, whether Jennifer Aniston can get that Oscar nod, and the early announcements for the Berlin Film Festival brings encouraging news of new films by Terrence Malick, Andrew Haigh, and Kenneth Branagh. We reveal our tentative plans for the festive period, a Turkish delight creates a dilemma for Pete in the Olsen Factor, and a dodgy looking sci-fi effort looks to bring awards favourite Eddie Redmayne crashing back to Earth.
- Berlin Film Festival reveals it will premiere Terrence Malick’s “Knight Of Cups”
- Screen Actors Guild Award nominations
- Golden Globe nominations
[4:10 – 23:35]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Get Santa
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
- The Face Of Love
[29:50 – 1:00:25]
Closing Segment: Our take on Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Palme d’Or winning “Winter Sleep,” and discussing films about actors!
[1:00:30 – 1:21:20]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Nancy Sinatra, “These Boots Are Made For Walkin'”
Episode 126: The Volumes of Proust [St. Vincent; Black Sea; Penguins of Madagascar]
Episode 126: The Volumes of Proust
(Right click… save as)
It’s Episode 126 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog.
This week is a boozy one, as Pete managed to finish a six-pack during the recording, but we still manage to talk fairly eloquently about the week’s releases, which include seaboard thriller “Black Sea” and animated spin-off “Penguins of Madagascar.” We also had quite a lot to say about intergenerational connection, as “St. Vincent” tugs at the heartstrings, while the decidedly less wholesome “Eastern Boys” leads to a Joe Wright rant and a discussion about relationships that is alarmingly close to the bone. The latest edition of the Red Light District offers a lot of positivity, as we discuss of one of Israel’s finest efforts, an unexpectedly amusing romantic comedy, and a gay Brazilian romance, while we also chat about the latest critics’ awards, which look to be heading for a “Boyhood” sweep. Kathleen Byron instigates a quickfire celebration of legendary Supporting Actress performances, Naomi Watts’ Russian chatter leaves us a bit bewildered, and Pete risks the wrath of his father by revealing a whisky faux-pas that would have connoisseurs recoiling in horror.
The Week’s News:
- Los Angeles Film Critics Association winners
- Boston Society of Film Critics winners
- British Independent Film Award winners
[3:15 – 12:55]
Red Light District: Featuring discussion of “Belle,” “I Origins,” “Just Married,” “Late Marriage,” “Maleficent,” “The Meaning of Life,” “Nick + Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” “The Small Back Room,” and “The Way He Looks”!
[13:00 – 30:40]
Preconception Corner
- Black Sea
- Eastern Boys
- Penguins of Madagascar
- St. Vincent
[37:00 – 1:28:50]
Shag, Marry or Kill?
The Olsen Factor
The Isaac Range
Episode 125: Empty and Chortleless [Paddington; Mockingjay Part I; The Homesman]
Episode 125: Empty and Chortleless
It’s Episode 125 of In the Mood for Podcast, a British-based film podcast hosted by Calum Reed of Ultimate Addict and Pete Sheppard of In the Mood for Blog.
This week we’re catching up for lost time with two weeks’ worth of films, and a ton of news, from the sad demise of Mike Nichols to the influx of awards action, featuring discussion of Marion Cotillard’s Oscar prospects and the underachievement of Edward Norton, while Pete is particularly aghast at the NBR’s fondness for “The Lego Movie.” Reviews this week include our take on podcast favourite Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of James Brown in “Get On Up,” the less-than-popular Hilary Swank in Tommy Lee Jones’ maybe-Western “The Homesman,” and the daunting prospect of Michael Bond’s “Paddington” being adapted for the big screen. Elsewhere, Pete found time to see Antipodean vampire comedy “What We Do In the Shadows,” while Cal was the only one queuing up to see Jennifer Lawrence in the latest instalment of The Hunger Games, “Mockingjay Part I.” Meanwhile, there’s a digression about 2006’s Best Actress Oscar lineup, one of Faye Dunaway’s many camp film roles is celebrated, Kevin Spacey’s private life gets an airing, and Pete is seriously torn between allegiance and detest in anticipation for Jason Reitman’s upcoming film, which stars the one and only Judy Greer.
- The death of Mike Nichols
- Cahiers du Cinema announce their top ten
- New York Film Critics Circle awards
- National Board of Review
[2:20 – 20:10]
Preconception Corner
Reviews of:
- Get On Up
- The Homesman
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I
- What We Do in the Shadows
[27:00 – 54:10]
Closing Segment: Our take on quirky children’s tale “Paddington” and discussing our favourite cinematic female villains!
[54:15 – 1:05:55]
The Isaac Range
Outro Music: Lana Del Rey, “Blue Jeans”
In the Mood for Podcast 
